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Levelland Economic Development Corporation sets restraining order against mayor following unwanted attendance in closed-session meeting.

Levelland’s mayor said he will comply with a restraining order prohibiting him from attending closed-session meetings of the city’s industrial-development group.

The Levelland Economic Development Corp. last week took legal action to prohibit Mayor Waymon Jackson from attending the executive session portions of its board meetings because he refused to leave such a meeting last month.

Jackson and EDC officials signed an injunction Monday, Sept. 30, in which the mayor agreed to not try to attend the closed-door sessions.

The agreement headed off a hearing that was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 1, before visiting District Judge Felix Klein from Lamb County. Klein was brought into the case because District Judge Pat Phelan of Hockley County recused himself.

Jackson said he’s concerned because the economic development corporation has been allowing an oil company to pump water out from under the EDC-owned rail park.

“I just wanted to know what they’re doing,” he said. “We’ve got a water situation. They’re letting oil companies use our water, and I’m trying to get them to stop it.”

While a lawsuit remains pending for a permanent restraining order, a temporary injunction now forbids Jackson from attending the closed-session meetings or requesting privileged legal information. Dustin Brooks, the corporation’s attorney, and Jackson and Jackson’s attorney, Warren Tabor Jr., all signed the injunction Monday, Sept. 30, Brooks said.

Jackson told A-J Media he’s upset the economic development board is allowing a third party to use Hockley County’s limited water supplies. Closely monitoring their actions is necessary to stop them, he said.

According to the board’s complaint, the oil company — Chi Energy — used water under tracts of land purchased by the board to form the Levelland Industrial Rail Park. Because the development group is independent from the city, Jackson and other city officials were not involved in those purchases, it continues.

“The Levelland Economic Development Corporation is a separate and distinct entity from the city of Levelland,” Brooks told A-J Media. “It is not owned by anyone.”

Jackson told A-J Media Tuesday he is not concerned about the restraining order or his significance for his political career. He hasn’t decided yet whether to run for re-election when his term expires, he said.

“It don’t amount to anything,” he said. “I’m not worried about it.”

Jackson initially answered, “Yes, ma’am,” in response to an inquiry regarding if he planned to continue attending the closed meetings. A few hours later, he said he will comply with the order.

“I’m not going to go their closed meetings where they’ve got counsel,” he said.

According to a complaint filed with the Hockley County District Court, Jackson did not leave the economic development group’s Sept. 18 meeting when the board moved from open to closed session, despite explanations that confidential legal discussion was forthcoming.

Under Texas law, discussions between governing bodies and their attorneys about pending legal matters are a common exception to the Open Meetings Act.

Other Levelland officials — City Attorney Richard Husen and City Manager Rick Osborn — agreed not to attend the meeting and were not present, the document continues.

The complaint further accuses Jackson of hostile behavior and publicly ridiculing Shawn Kirkpatrick, the city’s director of economic development. Jackson told Kirkpatrick, “We own you, buddy,” during an Aug. 6 City Council meeting, it claims.